Not too long after he learned to walk, Anthony Martello’s mother enrolled him in dance class.

It was the start of something special for Martello, who discovered his passion for performance early in life.

Now, as the head of the theater program at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School, he works to instill creative freedom in his students.

“I hope my kids get a place that, if they have nowhere they fit in, they feel safe and welcome in the theater,” Martello said. “That goes for students who have a blessed life. I want them to be comfortable in that room and on that stage.

“It’s my top priority to create that kind of environment.”

Martello is in his second year as the musical theater director for Allegheny Valley School District.

Following last year’s splash with “The Wizard of Oz,” the Pittsburgh native chose another over-the-top, fantasy-driven show with this year’s “Seussical.”

The bold colors and cartoonish characters will appeal to audience members of all ages, while the content will take on double meaning for teens and adults, he said.

“It’s a lot of heavy stuff for a kids’ show,” he said. “There are themes of bullying and loneliness. It sends a special message of perseverance.”

More than 40 students comprise the cast and crew. The production wraps up with a 1 p.m. show Sunday, April 2.

Senior Georgia Dale said that despite being new to the program, Martello has left a lasting mark on students.

“Since my seventh grade year, I have had four different musical directors, and Mr. Martello has been the most memorable,” Dale said. “I think because he is a teacher, it helps that he can really listen and collaborate with the students and his peers.”

Dale credits Martello for building a spirit of teamwork.

“He relies on people, and that builds trust,” she said. “Working with Mr. Martello will definitely be an experience I’ll never forget.”

A graduate of Woodland Hills High School, Martello earned his bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University.

He worked as a special education paraprofessional at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children before taking a job teaching English at Propel Montour Middle School.

A performer at heart, Martello has made it a priority to keep in tune with musical theater across the region.

After his early dance lessons, Martello performed extensively throughout the Pittsburgh region as a teen with East End Kids, a premier song and dance ensemble.

Through high school and into his early 20s, Martello was showcased in a troupe at the Lorraine Busch Dance Centre in Swissvale.

“Those experiences gave me amazing opportunities to learn to be creative,” he said. “I traveled all over the Pittsburgh area, to Disney and on cruises. It put me on a stage several times a week in malls and nursing homes. Some of my best friends to this day are from my time performing.”

At Woodland Hills, Martello performed with the school’s Gene Kelly Award-winning theater department, which he called top-tier.

“When I graduated, I did a few theater jobs at Woodland Hills Junior High, and I fell in love with that side of it,” he said. “Because I got put in great places and had a lovely high school career, I strive to give others that sense of belonging.

“For kids who might have nowhere else to fit in, you are welcome here. That goes for every kid. I want theater to be a place where everyone feels welcome.”

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